Subscribe to trusted local news

If you are accessing this story via Facebook but you are a subscriber then you will be unable to access the story. Facebook wants you to stay and read in the app and your login details are not shared with Facebook. If you experience problems with accessing the news but have subscribed, please contact subscriptions@thestrayferret.co.uk. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.

Already a subscriber? Log in here.

Jun 2022

Last Updated: 10/06/2022

Business

Experienced fundraiser joins Harrogate mental health charity

by Thomas Barrett

| 13 Jun, 2022

A new fundraiser joins Wellspring Training and Therapy in Starbeck, while Ripon's Grantley Hall appoints a new head chef for its pan-Asian restaurant.

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

Experienced fundraiser joins Harrogate mental health charity

A new head of fundraising has been appointed at a Harrogate counselling and training charity.

Kennie Cheung, whose experience includes time at Oxfam and a cancer charity in her native Hong Kong, joins Wellspring Training and Therapy in Starbeck.

Emily Fullarton, the executive director of Wellspring, said demand for mental health care had risen and was continuing to grow since the covid pandemic. She added:

“In the UK, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health issue at least once in their lifetime. According to local research, many people in Harrogate assume because it is a ‘nice town’ people don’t struggle with these issues. That simply isn’t true.

"There is a huge demand in Harrogate for our services and it’s increasing. The NHS, which is responsible for mental health care, simply can’t cope.”

Wellspring offers affordable counselling from just £5 per hour to people who cannot afford to pay for private appointments and who face long waiting lists on the NHS.

Clients can have short-term support or a long-term course of sessions with a qualified counsellor, depending on their needs.

Kennie said:

“This is a dream job for me. The political situation in Hong Kong, combined with the fact that our son Samuel is studying at University of Leeds, meant that we wanted to relocate to England and, in particular, Yorkshire.

“Harrogate is the most wonderful town – and I count myself incredibly blessed to have found a job here, which is suited to my skills and which is so worthwhile. I look forward to making new friends and contacts here and to reach out to individuals and businesses who are keen to help such a brilliant mental health charity like Wellspring."

Flower power to flood Harrogate in summer competition

Harrogate solicitors set to expand into York

Great British Menu chef appointed at Ripon hotel

A leading Yorkshire chef has been appointed to lead the pan-Asian restaurant at Grantley Hall.

Samira Effa will be head chef at Bar & Restaurant EightyEight, joining the five-star hotel from TRUEfoods where she was a senior production chef.

She is widely known for competing in the 2019 and 2020 series of Great British Menu, showcasing Yorkshire produce as well as her love of diverse cooking techniques and flavours thanks to her Iranian mother and Nigerian father.

Samira Effa of Bar and Restaurant EightyEight at Grantley Hall

The Huddersfield-born chef said:

“I’m honoured for the opportunity and so excited to be joining the Bar & Restaurant EightyEight team and know that with my breadth of knowledge across the industry, I’m ready to showcase some exciting flavours and bring new ideas to the EightyEight menu.

“I’ve always had a passion for food and with my parents' rich backgrounds, it was common for us at home to cook together using traditional Iranian and Nigerian recipes – both of which are bursting with flavour. I can’t wait to get stuck in at EightyEight and bring my own flair to the restaurant which I know is a popular spot for hotel guests and diners alike.”

Simon Crannage, executive head chef at Grantley Hall, added:

“We’re thrilled to welcome Samira to the Grantley Hall family and are very excited to see what she brings to Bar & Restaurant EightyEight.

"Samira has an exceptional culinary track record, along with having a genuine passion and love for food that I know will translate into her dishes for our diners to enjoy.”

Subscribe to trusted local news

Experienced fundraiser joins Harrogate mental health charity

Experienced fundraiser joins Harrogate mental health charity

Read more:

Great British Menu chef appointed at Ripon hotel